"His name is Lumen."

Jase rested against a boulder at the edge of Lake Vernai as Eleanor took in the presence of the creature peering at her cautiously from the lake. The Waterling's silvery skin rippled in the fading twilight as the waves lapped gently around him. The hole at the top of his head twitched every so often, taking in small gulps of air. Reading his expression was impossible given the lack of facial muscles, save the ones used to manipulate the narrow lower jaw. The severed dorsal fin had long since sealed itself over, now a narrow stump halfway down its back.

Despite the fact that he was endlessly fascinated with communicating with a member of a different species, Jase was growing tired of it. Lumen's feeding habits were nearly constant, and because Lake Vernai had very few fish, Jase had to replenish Lumen's food stock every few days. His body was wearing down from the regular hour-long hike it took to reach Lumen's alcove at the lake, and his bank account was suffering from both the sudden increase in crystal station visits and the bulk seafood purchases. The hiking trail faculty was starting to get suspicious of Jase's frequent visits, and he was running out of excuses. The enormous hiking backpack was filled to the seams with nothing but fish and crustaceans. He avoided contact with all other hikers in the hopes he wouldn't arouse further suspicion with the stench of fish. He would arrive back at his apartment literally smelling fishy.

Only his interest in Lumen's wellbeing kept him committed, but the routine was not sustainable. When he'd brought up the issue with Lumen, the Waterling threatened to devour the entire Lake's fish population otherwise. For all Jase knew, he'd already done it. After the first few days of talking with him, he'd demonstrated his lying skills plenty of times. While Jase was starting to catch on to the lying patterns, he had no way of knowing what else Lumen had lied about. He thought even Domrik would have trouble discerning truthful statements. It could have something to do with the fact that Lumen had to communicate with an acoustic illusion. If only Domrik hadn't been stuck in jail.

Seeing no other option, Jase had reached out to Eleanor. They hiked together to deliver Lumen's latest fish restock, discussing the Crimson Vein the entire way. It was a subject of endless speculation, though he was careful to draw the conversation away from himself. It was a miracle she'd bought his cover story for getting captured. He had worked out a somewhat believable story of him looking for Brandon in the Antiga Nature Preserve, where agents jumped out of nowhere and captured him. He was still painting himself as doing something illegal, but both Yuka and Eleanor were willing to forgo that little detail. The discovery of a criminal organization in one's own backyard tended to take up most of one's mental bandwidth.

He had asked Lumen beforehand to make sure he wasn't wasting his time. The Waterling had reluctantly agreed.

Eleanor's white jacket and plaid scarf stood out against the dull grey of the shore's pebbles. The brim of her hiking hat fluttered with the occasional mountain breeze. She held a hand to her chest as she recovered from her awe. "What a beautiful creature."

Lumen created a splash with his crescent tail, his clicks speeding into a frustrated whistle. The disembodied voice he chose was that of an insolent teenager. "I am not a creature."

"Are we not all creatures of differing form?" she countered. "Are you not a living being?"

"Not the definition of creature."

"In my mind, yes."

Lumen's head angled toward Jase. "How do you communicate with inconsistent definitions?"

Jase rubbed his chin, noting absentmindedly that he needed to shave soon. "We don't. Not really. It's one of the main reasons humans fight each other. Misunderstandings."

"Where are you from?" Eleanor asked, her hand playing thoughtfully with her necklace.

"Ocean," Lumen replied in a tone implying it was obvious.

"We know that," she said, gracefully. "Where in the ocean?"

"I cannot tell."

She glanced at Jase with suspicion, holding his gaze as her next question slipped out. "Why not?"

"Dangerous."

Jase frowned at the Waterling, simultaneously frustrated and understanding. He was out of his own domain, literally, and he had no reason to trust humans, given that his first interactions with them were of abduction, imprisonment, and probably torture. He could not be expected to be cooperative or truthful. Jase had tried dozens of times to learn more about the Waterling society, but Lumen had remained resolute in secrecy. He would share no more than Jase had learned from the memory crystal.

Eleanor turned away from Lumen and signaled to Jase with a glance to follow her. Pine needles crunched underfoot as they climbed to the crest of a shallow hill. Jase looked back as they weaved through the trees. Lumen appeared to have swam off. Or he had crafted a very good cloak.

"How did you come about this?" she asked as they gazed out over the expanse of Sormera Valley. The twilight sunset cast dark streaks across the landscape, prompting sections of civilization to turn their lights on early.

Jase lowered his head, digging his toes into the cool dirt. "Long story."

"We have time."

Jase removed a crystal from his pocket, his hand painted red by the prominent glow of its full charge. "Did you know these can store memories?"

Eleanor's face shifted between subtle expressions of confusion, surprise, and curiosity. She settled with a cold skepticism. I would think the Nephrinan would mention it."

He nodded. One could find any kind of wisdom or horror in that thousand-page tome. How much of it was accurate, Jase didn't know or care. He'd been forced to go to church for a few years before his parents finally realized he was his own person. Being judged for his imperfections left a bad taste in his mouth. It was fortunate that other Nephrinist denominations tended to be of the forgiving type. That quality was balanced by the fact that many of them developed the nasty habit of believing all the answers could be found in those ancient texts.

He glanced toward the beach harboring the Ancient Traspian Museum, trying to compile a truthful story that wouldn't reveal the entire truth. "Shortly before I was captured, I was taking a walk by the beach and felt something reach out to me. I'd never experienced it before. It was like an instinct of pure terror, escaping. I discovered there was no person emitting that vibration, but a crystal. I brought it to Domrik, and he told me it contained a memory."

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"How did he know?" she asked defensively, taking a step closer, examining the crystal.

Jase shrugged. "Just his intuition. I borrowed a dose from him and verified it for myself. And it wasn't just any memory, it was Lumen's. I got to live the portion of his life he inserted into that crystal."

His gaze drifted toward the dark blue line bordering the horizon. The ocean was calm today. "There is an entire society of non-human creatures hidden deep within the surface. Lumen is a fugitive. When we escaped, he had the option to return to the ocean, but he opted instead to cage himself in Lake Vernai."

"And risk capture again?"

"I tried to talk him out of it, trust me," he said, chuckling. "There is no getting to him. He's a feisty troublemaker."

"And what of the risk of discovery from innocent hikers?" she asked, her expression growing hard. "He cannot stay here, Jase. He is not safe here. Your discovery means more than you know. Have you ever read The Expeditions?"

"I've heard of it. Some old-time myth?"

"Not anymore," she said, throwing a concerned glance back toward the lake. "His kind is described nearly perfectly in that tale. They're known as Shingagi and are portrayed as ruthless murder monsters from the deep. If people discover they are real, can you imagine the panic?"

He thrust a hand toward the lake. "He didn't attack us, did he? He's not like that."

She put a hand on his arm. "I am not arguing with you. I'm not so foolish as to associate the individual with the whole, but most people will." She withdrew her hand, her fingers playing with the silver wedding band. She paused as her gaze went distant. Jase's chest went heavy as he caught the wave of grief pulsing through her. She continued, the corners of her eyes glistening, "We are on the precipice of danger on multiple fronts. First contact with a new species is a delicate matter for which we are wholly unprepared. Fear never meets surprise with wisdom. The last thing the people of Eredore need is another reason to support the military."

"You're not suggesting we keep this a secret."

"That, I am."

"The Crimson Vein already knows. They could be making first contact right now and gaining the Waterlings' trust. Is that the face we want to present? The face of an infection burrowing who knows how deep into the government? We can't hide from each other indefinitely. Lumen is proof of that. If we don't take strides for peace soon, there will be more war. Lumen's memory showed me what they're capable of, and honestly, I don't think Domrik would have a living chance against Lumen, and Lumen's not the strongest of them. The only way to disarm them is to become their friends."

Eleanor adjusted her scarf and held down her hat as a gust of wind blew. "Jase, nobody wants peace more than me. I appreciate your bringing me here, but I am not the one you should be arguing with."

"Who do you suggest?" he asked, splaying his arms out in frustration. "Who else would be able to take this news as smoothly as you?"

A tiny smile crept onto her lips. "I've known Yuka Brisham since we were in our twenties."

Jase blinked. "Yuka… the Yuka Brisham? The Senator?"

"There is only one Yuka Brisham," she said proudly. "She was the one who authorized Domrik to aid the Eredore Guard in finding the Crimson Vein."

He did his best to act surprised. "How did he know?"

Jase knew everything, of course. He'd had a couple meetings with Domrik in the jail visitor room. They had discussed reasonable cover stories, and Domrik had told Jase everything he knew about what Eleanor and Yuka knew. Transferring information in the opposite direction was almost impossible since it wasn't a private conversation. He'd tried to communicate telempathically with Domrik, but they were too out of sync to be on the same wavelength. Domrik's energy was more tumultuous than he'd ever sensed, and in that state, it was hard to hear thoughts beyond one's own mind.

"He'd said he saw it mentally," she said suspiciously. "Curious how their mission ended with your escape along with the Professor's."

"And Lumen's," he added.

She tilted her head. "You don't suppose he was looking for you?"

"Well, if I went missing, he'd be looking."

"And you went missing the night Domrik stole the Bow."

The hidden accusation unsettled him. It took all his willpower to not look away. "Did I?"

"Did you know?" she asked bluntly. "That he was going to steal the bow?"

"He had told me he was planning something to prepare for the coming shift we all sensed." He had wanted to avoid the half-truth, but he wasn't ready to reveal the full truth to anyone else yet. The last thing he needed was to be kept in the jail cell opposite Domrik's. Hector had believed him, but he wasn't sure he'd get past Eleanor's defenses as easily. The old woman had an intuition about her.

She frowned, then turned it into a sad smile. "He gave me the same warning as well. It'd sounded like he was preparing to lose his soul."

"I'd say he's made up for it with what he's done already. I saw the bow in action as I was escaping." He grinned. "You have no idea how powerful that thing is. And it was just sitting there in a museum!"

Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't think you'd be in support of his decision."

He counted on fingers. "Well, he did rescue me, the Professor, and Lumen, all while uncovering the Crimson Vein. That's gotta count for something."

"Yuka will be visiting him shortly. I think it best if you contact her about Lumen before she negotiates with Domrik. The more data she has, the better."

His palms went sweaty at the thought of talking to someone of her status. Hello, little ego in me.

"Can you give me her contact?" he asked.

Her look grew hard. "So long as you promise me you won't be asking her any more favors beyond bringing her to Lumen. And to not share it with anyone else. She's been known to change her number if someone unwelcome calls her."

She drew the sleeve back on her jacket and manipulated the wristpad's interface. Jase's wristpad binged with the receipt of the message. He looked at the contact's profile. A poised expression stared back at him, daring him to call. Senator Brisham was now a couple taps away.

"Thank you," he said, bowing his head respectfully. "How will she know I am welcome?"

"I will warn her beforehand. Call her tomorrow at the earliest."

"When will she meet with Domrik?"

"The day after tomorrow."

He gazed back over the hill's crest toward the lake. No sign of Lumen remained, but the Waterling had excellent hearing. Jase hoped he would respond to another summons. "I need to make sure she would be welcome first."

They meandered back down to the pebbled shore of the lake. Just as they reached it, a shallow mound of water moved toward them, eventually sprouting a severed fin and a round head. Lumen settled closer to them this time.

"I will not meet with her," he said, emphasizing a pout in the vocal illusion. "Do not bring me leaders. Only food."

Jase's wide eyes flicked to Eleanor. They shared a wordless understanding in their shock. Lumen had heard everything.

Jase sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Lumen, you are not safe here. One way or another, you're going to be discovered. Do you want to be captured again?"

"I can hide." Lumen blinked out of existence, or at least he seemed to, since Jase could still see a faint outline of the curved head and muzzle.

"Not from everyone, you can't," Jase said, smirking. "I can still see you."

The Waterling turned and swam to the side several meters, then shifted his head toward the two humans. Eleanor watched Jase with confusion as he tracked Lumen with his gaze. Her Vision Ember wasn't active enough to pierce the illusion. Lumen squealed with irritation and swam in the other direction, confirming with another frustrated glance that Jase had not lost him. Returning to his former resting place, he dropped the illusion. "How?"

"Special training," Jase said. "And I'm not the only one. There are others, and they might not be as friendly." It wasn't the whole truth, but he needed to be persuasive.

Lumen's silence indicated the effectiveness of his argument. Waterlings had to come up for air every once in a while, and it would be incredibly inconvenient to have someone see them in that moment.

Jase used the pause to advance his argument. "If I can bring our leader to you and demonstrate to her that you are not a threat, she might be willing to help you. She could take you to a safer place, or at least make this place safer." He gestured to the rest of the lake. His heart ached at the prospect of giving up responsibility to Lumen, especially after sharing his memories so intimately. It it weren't so inconvenient to care for him, Jase might have kept him a secret.

Lumen emitted a low clicking as he slinked backward away from the shore. "One meeting. No more."

Jase relaxed as Lumen plunged under the surface. He grinned at Eleanor and pumped his fist in a silent celebration. "I wasn't sure he would listen."

She gazed over the spot Lumen had rested, frowning skeptically. "Be careful with how you bring this to Yuka, or you might wish he hadn't."